The Art of Falling
Have you ever heard the history of the light bulb?
Thomas Edison made about 1,000 unsuccessful attempts before he created the first light bulb.
When was the last time you gave up? I know that feeling because I have failed many times (of course). Edison’s example represents a healthy ratio between failure and success.
This article describes my approach to building an innovation mindset in a leader who fails then quickly jumps back to the top of the leadership board. Let’s start with some thoughts about innovation.
The Little Black Book of Innovation by Scott D. Anthony is an endless inspiration for me. This book contains a lot of food for thought (for example, the 28-day program for building an innovative venture). I would recommend the book to anyone interested in leveraging their experience to build something incredible. Anthony shares four points to develop an innovation mindset:
1) Be externally focused.
2) Recognise that your first idea is wrong.
3) Release your inner Edison, and start sweating.
4) Break the sucking sound of the core.
My thoughts?
Being externally focused is an important reminder to not forget the economic environment of a venture. Understanding market trends, customer needs, and competitor landscapes are factors in success.
What about recognizing that my first idea was wrong? This means being open to continuous improvements and being sure that an initial idea is not the final form. The concept of a lean startup shows the loop of improvements to an idea.
Edison’s persistence is an inspiration to not give up easily and to try new ways of solving customer problems. Edison mentioned that people don’t even imagine how close get to actually solving their problems. I would be angry if I knew that I was only one step away from solving a difficult problem or creating a great product for a wide audience.
Finally, innovation often involves thoroughly examining the core of a problem or situation to discover new solutions or insights. The phrase “the sucking sound of the core” implies that deep concentration and effort are required to delve into the heart of an issue and propel innovation forward or extract the fundamental elements of ideas from a complex situation. This kind of innovation mindset involves a shift in thinking about delivering results.
But what if we fail or fall?
There is no situation without a solution. We can always jump back on top of the leadership board again. We can cope with obstacles and adversities by implementing strategies to mitigate risks. A never-give-up attitude can steer you toward unwavering determination and give you an advantage over competitors.
It is important to discover what limits us. For example, I had a problem with negative thoughts, so the solution was simple. I joined the psychotherapeutic sessions based on CBT. It was a pleasure to imagine my negative thoughts enclosed in a train leaving the platform.
The entrepreneurial journey is about relationships; on the other side, there is always a human being. There is no shame in asking for help or getting a psychotherapist to join your journey and help you with your struggles.
Edison’s approach, based on seeing failed attempts as steps toward success, emphasizes the role of perspective in leadership. Having an “elastic” perspective means being able to reinterpret negative results as more positive (for example, seeing them as opportunities for reflection and experience).
I needed a lot of time to understand Edison’s perspective. However, this way of thinking makes me calmer about the future.
Of course, everything depends on you. Awaken the giant inside you. Strategies to keep yourself motivated depend only on you.
I hope this has given you some inspiration and food for thought about the innovation mindset and the never-give-up attitude.
Are you ready to turn your ideas into innovations? Dive deeper into developing your leadership and innovation skills with exclusive content at https://ff0000.substack.com/archive. Subscribe now to get the latest insights and strategies delivered straight to your inbox! Share this post with your network and let’s inspire a wave of technology and entrepreneurship. What’s your light-bulb moment? Share it in the comments below or post me @matadcze.